RE: pheasant hunting
2011/11/15 09:14:38
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This season has been slower than those in recent (10 years or so) memory. We still did okay, but often hunted twice or three times as long, in cover we normally don't need to venture into, in order to get a limit of birds of each hunter in the party. It did seem, however, that as the season progressed, we were finding more and more birds and were seeing less and less hunters. There typically is a drop off in hunters once turkeys become legal, but that decrease seemd to be a little more dramatic this season -- perhaps because of lack of early success in finding birds.
In years past, it was not unusual to pop a five person limit in 1.5 to 2 hours. In fact, with the exception of a few, a darn few, post deer season hunts, up until this year, each hunt resulted in a limit for each member of the hunting party, whether that was one or five. In addition, checking my records, we had some 30- 40 point days over the last few seasons (missed shots, bird goes up in front of limited out hunter, walking out with open guns after limits, etc.). The best day we had this season was 14 -- good thing there were only three of us because it took that many to get six ( I missed a few -- LOL - but in the cover we were in, I'm not surprised). We also had five days this season when we were short of a limit for everyone.
I suppose the decrease in stocking cut down on the numbers, but hey, it was what it was. With no late season stocking this year, I am done on public ground and will turn to preserve guiding for the balance of that season. I know the dogs will appreciate the easier hunting, less thorns, less swamp, less hunting and more finding.
The poster formally known as Duncsdad
Everything I say can be fully substantiated by my own opinion.